Former Hanssem HR Manager Who Forced Sexual Relations on Sexual Assault Victim Receives Suspended Sentence in Second Trial

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo Byung-don] A former HR team leader of a furniture company, who was charged with coercing a sexual assault victim to give false testimony and attempting to demand sexual intercourse, was sentenced to probation in the appellate court.

The Seoul Central District Court Criminal Appeals Division 8-3 (Presiding Judges Jang Yoon-sun, Kim Ye-young, Jang Sung-hak) on the 12th sentenced Yoo, who was charged with coercion and attempted coercion, to one year in prison with a two-year probation. Additionally, an order of 80 hours of community service was imposed.

In 2017, Hansem new employee A was sexually assaulted by senior Park and later exposed the incident by posting about it online in November of the same year.

At the time of the incident, Yoo was prosecuted for coercing A to change her testimony given to investigative authorities in order to cover up the case. He was also charged with attempting to coerce sexual intercourse from A, who had already been sexually assaulted, by threatening her with potential personnel disadvantages.

In the first trial, the court sentenced Yoo to eight months in prison with two years probation for coercing false testimony, and six months in prison with two years probation for attempted coercion.

The two cases were consolidated in the appellate court. Yoo appealed the verdict, claiming "A's testimony is not credible," but this was rejected.

The appellate court pointed out, "The crime of coercing a trainee, who was another sexual crime victim, to write a false statement, and again attempting to use his position within the company to make her perform unnecessary tasks in a guest room, is not a light offense."

However, the court stated that it determined the sentence considering the combined sentencing of the two charges in the first trial and the fact that some of the offenses were attempts.

Park, who sexually assaulted A, was sentenced to three years in prison and detained in the first trial but reached a settlement with the victim in the appellate court, resulting in a reduced sentence of two years and six months in prison with four years probation, which was finalized.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.